Reviewing the Top 12 Construction Podcasts

Podcasts have redefined how we listen and learn, with over 3 million (and counting) currently available, spanning nearly every imaginable topic. Many top podcasts now include video, making the medium more powerful than ever. Construction podcasts play an essential role in empowering experts and industry leaders to share their knowledge in a format that is convenient and fun for listeners and viewers.

In this blog post, we review the top B2B construction podcasts from around the world and describe what makes each unique and engaging. As you will see, there are options available to suit the needs of every contractor, architect, engineer, and construction professional.

Top Construction Podcasts

Ranking the best construction podcasts involved reviewing listener and subscriber counts and our personal preferences, although we realize each construction industry professional will create a specialized playlist. As we surveyed the nearly endless high-quality options, we found that most podcast episodes ran approximately 20-40 minutes and were available on Apple and Spotify (plus YouTube for video productions). However, the similarities ended there!

1. Hard Hats & Hi Tech

Hard Hats & Hi Tech is RIB’s brand-new podcast series. In it, industry experts have insightful conversations about relevant topics, such as collaboration between young professionals and the older generation, the evolution of BIM, how AI is being used in construction, future technology trends, cost management, and more.

Join host Bernardita Calzon in these fascinating conversations with expert guests from all over the world who share their knowledge, experience, and practical tips to ensure you succeed in your journey in the building industry.

2. The World’s Best Construction Podcast – B1M

With more than 20 million viewers each month, the B1M is the largest and most subscribed-to video channel for construction in the world. The weekly podcast is a relatively new addition to the platform, with episodes dropping every Thursday. The podcast offers deeper insight into some of the industry’s most exceptional projects, along with timely news stories and lively conversations.

The team of three hosts, who refer to themselves as “three mates talking construction,” is joined by experts who share their unique insights into construction, architecture, and engineering. The podcast topics conveniently tie into the latest B1M video releases, although the hosts make it clear that watching in advance is not required!

3. 21st Century Construction

Billed as the “home of great construction stories,” the 21^st Century Construction podcast, sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Building in the UK, is known for going behind the headlines to dive into unusual and captivating stories that highlight the ingenuity and creativity behind the buildings.

Recent podcast topics have ranged from sustainable construction and the housing shortage to data-led construction and innovations in building practices. Each new topic is covered through an inquisitive and entertaining lens that keeps listeners coming back for more. The 21^st Century Construction podcast also encourages podcast story and idea submissions from their dedicated listeners.

4. Construction Brothers Podcast

Since 2019, the Construction Brothers Podcast, hosted by Eddie Campbell, a general contractor and business leader in Building Information Management (BIM), and his brother, Storybuilder founder Tyler Campbell, the Construction Brothers Podcast has been covering a wide range of topics, sprinkled with interviews and insights from industry leaders.

The diverse interests and experiences of the brothers make the scope of the conversation possible, with conventional topics like concrete forms and drywall interwoven with lively discussions on business, recruitment, and classic cars. The Construction Brothers emphasize the value of storytelling, as industry experts share experiences garnered through challenging projects.

5. Engineering Matters

The award-winning Engineering Matters podcast, broadcast out of the UK, celebrates the work of engineers who utilize ingenuity, practicality, and science to better their craft and the world around them. An entertaining blend of interviews, site visits, music, and storytelling makes this construction industry podcast unique, along with the broad scope of topics.

Recent episodes have featured everything from future wind farm and highway technology to the history of data transfer and energy systems. The educational aspects of the podcast are often cited in visitor reviews, with complex material presented in a manner that is suitable for both novices and experts.

6. The Preconstruction Podcast

A niche podcast in the US that has built its own dedicated following is the Preconstruction Podcast. Hosted by Entrepreneur Gareth McGlynn, each episode focuses on a different aspect of preconstruction innovation throughout the US. For example, recent episodes have focused on scheduling, energy infrastructure, and sheet metal, with each bringing a different industry expert to the table to share their expertise.

The engaging podcast team has spared no expense, traveling around the country to meet with top experts in the places where they live and work. Like other top entries on our list, the Preconstruction Podcast also features mini-series’ to cover complex topics like data center construction and leadership in greater detail.

7. Green Building Matters Podcast

A construction industry podcast with a decidedly sustainable angle is the Green Building Matters Podcast. Each episode focuses on the value and significance of green buildings, with the help of guest speakers and industry leaders who share a dedication to sustainable building practices. The podcast is sponsored and hosted by GBES, a company that provides exam preparation and continuing education for the LEED and WELL building rating systems.

The Green Building Matters podcast features a new drop each Wednesday, with recent episodes taking a deep dive into topics that are clearly on the minds of green builders around the world, like smart cities, LEED certification, and climate change. Select episodes also take a closer look at green success stories that serve as examples of what is possible.

8. Women in BIM

As the name implies, this podcast was created as a forum to support the growing number of Women in BIM (Building Information Modeling) by engaging in lively discussions on the technologies transforming architecture and engineering. Founded in 2012, Women in BIM (WIB) also provides mentoring resources for women seeking to grow or begin a career in construction engineering technology.

The entertaining podcast expands beyond the boundaries of the organization, making it a “must-listen” for any construction professional. For example, candid conversations on mental health, AI, diversity, and job satisfaction provide deep insights from industry experts that put the important topics of today into perspective.

9. Construction Leaders Podcast

The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) has developed its own Construction Leaders Podcast to focus attention on the latest in capital management and the challenges facing today’s industry professionals. The monthly construction business podcast is co-hosted by Nick Soto and Carly Trout of CMAA, each of whom brings their own wealth of experience and insight to the table.

Like many of the best construction podcasts we have reviewed, the Construction Leaders Podcast has chosen to focus on sustainability, career development, job site safety, and other topics that are currently grabbing headlines and the attention of industry leaders. In just over three years, the podcast has quickly built a dedicated following.

10. The Fine Homebuilding Podcast

The aptly titled Fine Homebuilding Podcast is an offshoot of the Fine Homebuilding Magazine, and mirrors the latter’s commitment to preserving craftsmanship in residential construction projects. The podcast features informal yet lively discussions on the techniques of master builders, and how to preserve them, along with interviews and guest appearances from designers, builders, and other industry experts.

Each episode takes a deep dive into topics like foundation work, carpentry, roofing, and plumbing, and the balance between old-world craftsmanship and the new tools and technologies transforming the industry. The podcast also features Q&A sessions where subscriber questions are addressed by the expert panel. 

11. 99% Invisible

The modestly titled podcast, 99% Invisible, explores the hidden design and architecture that shapes the world around us. Hosted by radio veteran Roman Mars, the over 500 episodes now available for streaming tell the stories we don’t often hear about the buildings we inhabit and the streets we walk on.

Founded in 2016, 99% Invisible links together elements reported by separate contributors into well-produced and educational case studies. Podcasts and “mini stories” run the gamut from urban racoon resistance to the origins of ancient cities. Anyone with more than a passing interest in architecture or history will surely find this compelling podcast to be worth a listen.

12. The Construction Leading Edge Podcast

Our last featured construction podcast, rated #1 for business owners, is the Construction Leading Edge Podcast. Founded and hosted by Todd Dawalt, an industry professional with 25 years of diverse experience, the podcast and its parent company are dedicated to helping overworked owners reclaim their construction businesses.

With over 2 million podcast downloads to date, Construction Leading Edge has met this lofty objective by bringing the best information on organizational excellence, customer acquisition, and growth directly to the eyes and ears of viewers and subscribers around the world.

Conclusion

The best construction podcasts present an entertaining pathway to learning for construction professionals—a pathway that is accelerating careers and changing the trajectory of the industry. As we review common threads weaving through the best podcasts, topics like new software technology, sustainable methods, and building information modeling (BIM) continually reappear.

RIB Software has been developed to support the future of the industry with integrated project management, procurement, planning, scheduling, and estimating platforms targeting the increased efficiency, on-time project delivery, and budget adherence that will drive the construction industry into the next century.

RIB Software empowers businesses around the world to reshape the way they design, construct, and manage projects. Get your demo today to discover the benefits for yourself!